TRI-Gel therapy alters the levels of key sphingolipids.(A) Simplified scheme of the study showing isolation
and analysis of lipids from untreated (n = 4) and
TRI-Gel-treated (n = 4) tumors. (B)
Heat map representing the altered profile of sphingolipids reveals
significant changes in expression of fatty acyl chain-specific ceramides,
glucosylceramides, and ceramide-1-phosphates on TRI-Gel treatment
as compared to untreated tumors. M1–M4 represent four different
mice in a group. (C) Scheme of glucosylceramide-ceramide-ceramide-1-phosphate
pathway and key enzymes regulating the pathway. Different enzymes
are Gcs: glucosylceramide synthase, Gba1: β-glucocerebrosidase
1, Cerk: ceramide kinase, Lpps: lipid phosphate phosphatase. (D–F) Changes in altered sphingolipids
in TRI-Gel-treated tumors (n = 4) in comparison to
untreated control (n = 4) (mean ± standard deviation
(SD)) confirm significant increase of C18 and C24 ceramides (D) with decrease in C16, C18, and C20 glucosylceramides (E) and C20, C22, and C24:1 ceramide-1-phosphates (F). Data were analyzed by unpaired two-tailed Student’s t-test (D–F).